Community News

DOWNTOWN AKRON — The city of Akron’s Voluntarily Separation Plan (VSP) attracted 123 takers as of the deadline for the program Aug. 24.

Mayor Don Plusquellic had extended the program by 10 days. During that time, 17 more city employees agreed to the VSP, or buyout. In this group are Deputy Mayor for Labor Relations James Masturzo, Deputy Director of Finance Catherine Watson and Director of Personnel Virginia Robinson.

Those previously taking the buyout included Law Director Max Rothal and George Romanoski, assistant to the mayor and a former public safety director. [For more on Rothal’s retirement and the original deadline extension for the buyout, see the Aug. 20, 2009, West Side Leader or visit the archives at www.akron.com.]

The city had announced that it faces a projected budget deficit of approximately $12 million before year’s end and that layoffs were inevitable. Minimizing them meant having as many people as possible take advantage of the VSP, according to city officials. 

“These employees have helped save other people’s jobs,” Plusquellic stated in a news release. “I can’t thank them enough. And I also must express thanks to the AFSCME (municipal employees union), the CSPA (civil service) and the Akron Nurses Association. These three — of our five — unions have continued to work with us to cut costs, as unions from many other cities have.”

The VSP offer has now expired, and Plusquellic said the next move will be layoffs coming in September of permanent, full-time city workers on multiple levels. The city has previously said layoffs will occur in many job classifications and in all departments and divisions.

“By and large, employees with a pension ‘safety net’ accepted the buyout to save the jobs of those who have no net at all,” Plusquellic said.

The 123 departures represent an annual payroll expense of more than $7 million, according to Finance Director Diane Miller-Dawson.

Garden center’s Constantine dies at 83

John Constantine Jr., at left, and John Constantine Sr. are shown at Constantine’s Garden Center in 2005, when the company celebrated its 50th anniversary year.

Photo: Ken Crisafi

RICHFIELD — Longtime garden center owner John Constantine Sr. loved  his work, but it wasn’t always the flowers and plants that kept him happy.

“It was the people,” said son John Constantine Jr.

The elder Constantine died suddenly Aug. 17 while on a golf outing in Canton with members of his golf league, John Constantine Jr. said. He was 83.

Constantine Sr. was born in Akron and graduated from West High School. He earned a degree in horticulture form The Ohio State University and worked on the grounds at The University of Akron in the 1950s. He then began operating his business out of a trailer on West Market Street in Fairlawn.

In 1955, he and his wife, Athena, moved to Richfield and opened Constantine’s Garden Center. Today the garden center has more than 40 greenhouses in operation and produces more than 80 percent of the nursery stock and plants available for purchase by customers. As many as 8,000 flats of annual budding plants, including flowers and vegetables, are grown each year, according to the company.

Constantine Jr. said his father turned the reins of the business over to him about 10 years ago but was still a regular fixture at the garden center.

“He was here every day but Monday and Wednesday, when he golfed,” Constantine Jr. said.

After his wife died five years ago, Constantine Sr. began doing some traveling and spent some time in the South during the winter so he could golf, his son said.

He added many customers have been stopping by since Constantine Sr.’s death to express their condolences.

Constantine Jr. said while he called the shots at the business the past few years, he appreciated having his father around to advise him.

“I bounced everything off him, which is what I miss the most,” Constantine Jr. said.

Constantine Sr. served his country in the U.S. Navy and was also a member of the Tadmor Shrine as a Master Mason. He is survived by Constantine Jr. and his wife, Cindy, of Richfield; grandchildren Jason, Allie and Ari Constantine; brothers Gus (Marie) and Fred (Vee) Konstand; and many nieces and nephews. The family held private services, as Constantine Sr. requested.

Constantine Jr. said memorials may be made to the Interval Brotherhood Home, 3445 S. Main St., Akron, OH 44319.

    — By Kathleen Folkerth

Burglary scam targets homeowners, elderly

SUMMIT COUNTY — Summit County Sheriff Drew Alexander is notifying the public of a burglary scam occurring in Summit and surrounding counties.

An individual will make contact with the homeowner on the pretense of performing zoning, electrical or landscaping work nearby and needing to verify the victim’s property line. The suspect also might claim to be with a utility service and need to check the victim’s basement.

While the victim escorts the suspect away from the residence, additional suspects enter the house and steal valuables. The victim usually does not realize the burglary has occurred until after the suspects are gone.

The suspects appear to target the elderly but have struck younger victims as well.

Should this scenario appear to be playing out, Alexander advises contacting the local law enforcement agency immediately. Law enforcement then can verify if the situation is legitimate.

Copley Zoning Commission changes meeting dates

COPLEY — The Copley Township Zoning Commission has changed its official meeting date from the first Monday of the month to the fourth Monday of the month.

Regular Zoning Commission meetings will take place at Town Hall, 1540 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, and begin at 6 p.m.

The change became effective Aug. 24.

The Zoning Commission is a statutory committee consisting of five regular and two alternate members of residents living in the township. Current members include Chairperson Colleen Ahern, Vice Chairperson Jane Scott, Mark Wasick, Ernest Stein and Jim Phelps. Alternate members include Bill Daniel and a currently vacant second position.

Those interested in serving in this capacity are asked to submit a letter of interest to Peggy Spraggins, Township Administrator, 1540 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Copley, OH 44321.

The role of the Zoning Commission is to review and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees on the Zoning Resolution text and township zoning map. Zoning Commission members are currently working on the rewrite of the Zoning Resolution. Commission members anticipate the process will take another six months before a final document is completed.

Pardon My Pooch continues, sees early success

SUMMIT COUNTY — On Aug. 4, Summit County Executive Russ Pry announced his administration would begin waiving the $14 late fee regularly charged to citizens who have yet to purchase a 2009 dog license.  The cost-saving opportunity is only being offered at selected community events through an amnesty program called Pardon My Pooch. 

After two Pardon My Pooch amnesty events, the Division of Animal Control reported licensing 99 dogs.

Dog licenses provide citizens with proof of ownership should a pet go missing, assists in reuniting owners with their dogs, legally authorizes pets to visit area dog parks and generates revenue needed to supply food, shelter and vaccinations to abandoned animals, according to county officials.

“I am very pleased to see that local pet owners are responding to this program,” Pry said. 

Representatives will sell dog licenses and waive late fees at these community events:

• Summit County Government Employee Night at Canal Park Stadium, Aug. 28, 6 to 8 p.m., outside the main entrance to the stadium, 300 S. Main St., Downtown Akron;

• Humane Society of Greater Akron’s Imagine the Pawsibilities Rummage Sale, Sept. 18, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Stow-Kent Shopping Center, 4301 Kent Road, Stow;

• One of a Kind Pets’ Adopt-a-Thon, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Hardesty Park, 1615 W. Market St., West Akron;

• PawFest at Bow Wow Beach, Sept. 20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Silver Springs Park, 5070 Stow Road, Stow; and

• Barkitecture, Sundays through Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, West Akron.

For more information, call (330) 643-2845 or visit www.co.summit.oh.us.

State, city, BMV offer child identification event

FAIRLAWN — The offices of Fairlawn Deputy Registrar Kelly Caruso, Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray, Fairlawn Mayor William Roth Jr. and the Fairlawn Police Department will host an ID R Kids Day Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fairlawn Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), 2955 W. Market St.

According to city and state officials, the Ohio ID R Kids program provides the only identification card that places a child’s photo, name, address, date of birth and next of kin contact information in the BMV database. This database allows law enforcement immediate access to critical information in the event of a missing child, and it also allows parents or guardians to provide proof of age for sporting events and airline travel. The card also prevents children from becoming identity theft victims by establishing a record of information.

To participate, parents or guardians will need their own legal identification, as well as a certified birth certificate and Social Security card of their child. The cost to participate is $8.50. For more information, call Caruso at (330) 867-1101.

CSEA setting up information booths for Child Support Awareness Month

DOWNTOWN AKRON — The Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), a division of Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh’s Office, is setting up an information booth Aug. 31 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Akron-Summit County Main Library, 60 S. Hight St., for individuals to get help with their child support.

“We hope that people will take advantage of this opportunity to ask questions or resolve problems with their child support,” Bevan Walsh said. “The information booths are there to facilitate all CSEA inquiries, including establishment of support, modification requests, driver’s license suspension and other questions.”

Summit County Council passed a resolution to declare August as Child Support Awareness Month in Summit County. Statewide, child support agencies are holding different activities to bring awareness to child support issues.

Akron Police Explorers looking for new recruits

DOWNTOWN AKRON — The Akron Police Department Law Enforcement Explorers are looking for new members between 14 and 21 with an interest in law enforcement.

The first meeting will be Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Akron Police Department (APD) Training Bureau at 1 Cascade Plaza.

Explorers is a cooperative effort of the APD and the Great Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The program’s purpose is to educate interested students in the methods and objectives of law enforcement while providing a rewarding and fun experience.

The post meets twice a month at the APD. Occasional field trips and other district activities are scheduled, as well as opportunities to observe police work firsthand. Participants will learn about uniform police work, undercover police work, narcotics abuse prevention and other police functions, as well as take part in community service events, tours and hands-on training.

For more details, contact APD Community Relations at (330) 375-2390 or akronpoliceexplorers2001@yahoo.com.

Towpath Trail closure planned

CVNP — The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail will be closed from Boston Store Visitor Center south to the railroad tunnel (approximately 1.4 miles) Sept. 8 through Sept. 25 from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

The tunnel is approximately 1 mile north of Lock 29 Trailhead in Peninsula.

The closure is necessary for the safety of staff and visitors, as sections of the Stumpy Basin boardwalk will be rebuilt as part of normal maintenance of the Towpath Trail, according to CVNP officials.

During the repair, this area will be unsafe for trail use.

WRH closing labor, delivery unit

WADSWORTH — Summa Wadsworth-Rittman Hospital (WRH) will close its Obstetrics Unit as a result of low patient volume, according to hospital officials. WRH’s goal is to continue to provide obstetrics services through Oct. 31.

The decision was approved by the WRH Board of Directors Aug. 18 following a comprehensive review of women’s health services, according to WRH officials. The review was led by a task force that included representatives from the hospital’s leadership team and board, as well as members of the medical and clinical staff.

Through June 30, 2009, 171 babies were delivered at the hospital. In 2008, 306 babies were born in the nine-bed unit, less than one a day. Despite high patient satisfaction scores, the hospital has had difficulty increasing volume, primarily given its close proximity to other area hospitals, according to WRH officials. It is estimated that 70 percent of expectant parents in the hospital’s primary service area deliver their babies at other hospitals.

Also, research has demonstrated that the population in the hospital’s primary service market is aging, meaning that fewer women need maternity services, say WRH officials.

WRH is helping patients scheduled to deliver at the hospital to transition their prenatal care to other Summa Health System sites, including Akron City and Barberton hospitals.

“The decision to close the hospital’s Obstetrics Unit was a difficult one for us to make,” said WRH President Jim Pope. “Given the unit’s low volume, we believe that this is the best decision for our patients and ensures that they will continue to receive the best care possible.”

Human resources will work with the 33 employees at the Obstetrics Unit to transition them to other open Summa jobs, where available, or to receive additional health care training from Summa to pursue careers in fields other than obstetrics.

Summa is committing $10 million toward services meeting the needs of WRH’s aging population, such as surgical and emergency services, intensive care and inpatient care, according to hospital officials.